Zhouzhuang, rated by 'National Geographic' as the most beautiful ancient town in China, is truly exceptional
I have visited quite a few water towns, but Zhouzhuang remains my favorite.
The layout of the ancient town is compact, with streets and canals running perpendicular to each other, crisscrossing neatly. This relatively regular pattern makes my stroll more enjoyable; I start with the horizontal streets, finish them one by one, then move on to the vertical ones. After one round, I have covered all the places I intended to visit without getting lost.
Almost every type of street can be found in Zhouzhuang. The wider ones have a canal in the middle, with boats shuttling back and forth, stone embankments on both sides, willows swaying gently, and shops lined up. The narrower ones have a path on only one side, with buildings directly facing the water on the other. From this side of the street, if you're lucky, you might see beautiful women sitting in front of the windows on the first or second floor, dining and chatting elegantly—a lovely sight indeed.
Even narrower are the 'water streets,' where buildings stand back to back on both sides of the canal. Residents facing each other through their windows might even engage in cross-canal communication. Some houses have steps leading down to the water at the back, convenient for mooring boats or washing rice and vegetables in the river. However, since there are no paths along the riverbank, you have to stand on a round arched bridge to get a good view of these water streets.
In Zhouzhuang, my favorite street is called Zhongshi Street. It's not adjacent to the water and is extremely narrow, less than two meters wide, with flagstone paving and shops on both sides. After visiting a Suzhou embroidery shop on the left, you step out, take a few steps, and enter a fan shop on the right. The feeling is wonderful. Compared to the city streets that are hard to cross, it even feels a bit magical.
If you have ample time, you can also venture deeper into the ancient town. Behind the main streets, there are winding alleys with grey bricks, flanked by mottled white walls, as if you have stepped back into ancient times. Occasionally, you pass by a house with closed doors, with banana leaves peeking out from the corner of the wall, arousing curiosity about what lies inside the courtyard.
These streets, large and small, diverse in form and character, converge in this town of less than one square kilometer, making a visit to Zhouzhuang a delightfully interesting experience.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai Dayida suggested to play, go back to a good place on the same day, the development is relatively complete, some facilities are also very convenient to find toilets, there is a homestay in it, where you can live for a few days, slowly experience different lifestyles
Zhouzhuang has not been here for 7 or 8 years. Now the ancient town is more orderly and comfortable. The road outside, the town environment, and the convenient transportation have all improved qualitatively. Online ticket purchases are directly bound to the ID card, and the certificate is directly entered the scenic spot. The ticket is valid for 3 days. And online ticket purchase also has different tickets + catering, performances and other packages, very affordable!
First the drizzle in the middle of the Sanqing Mountain and then the sunny day to visit Huangshan, in my mind, I feel that Sanqing Mountain is more than Huangshan, especially the West Coast scenery is really lingering, intoxicating.
After more than ten years, I came to Zhouzhuang again, and I felt that Zhouzhuang still seemed to be in memory, and it felt different. But the same thing is that people in Zhouzhuang are still so enthusiastic ❤️ This time I brought a dog 🐶. Every restaurant is very 🧑🤝🧑. It is very good for dogs. Zhouzhuang's night view 🎑 is still as beautiful as in memory. During the Spring Festival holiday, I had a great time in Zhouzhuang for three days and two nights.
It is convenient to buy tickets, and you can directly swipe your ID card to enter the scenic spot. There were too many people on the day, some crowded, and the main streets were full of people. I waited for the cruise for nearly an hour. Bring the children, stroll around and rest, overall it is still possible.
Driving, parked in the Fuguiyuan parking lot, the key is free parking in the parking lot, including the Dongzhuang parking lot next to it, which is good, friendly to foreign cars, very close to the entrance of the ancient town's double bridge, with signboards. Zhouzhuang waterway is well-written, bridges are also many, do not do a good strategy easy to go wrong road, we are confused inside, walked a lot of wrong road. If you are at the entrance of Shuangqiao, it is recommended to go to the right to the ancient archway. The museum and carton paradise are there, as well as the ancient stage. I listened to two Kunqu songs there, and then I went to Zhangting Shenting. Look around the road, it is not easy to miss the small attractions you want to go. We didn't take the boat and wanted to walk on the shore. It's really a small bridge and flowing water, and the photos are very good. I am very satisfied with this trip.
Zhouzhuang is indeed the first water town in China. Compared with Xitang, Wuzhen and Tongli, Zhouzhuang is really simple and natural. The commercial atmosphere is not so strong. The river boats meet, the local residents are washing by the water, the ancient bridge is staggered, and the smooth blue slate upstream people are like weaving. The proprietress of the riverside restaurant warmly recommended specialties. Wansanhoo is really delicious. The breakfast shop next to the road is mellow. The Ozao noodles and Wansan noodles are also very delicious. The innkeeper is also very enthusiastic. He knocked on the door in the middle of the night and asked if we needed to add a quilt... Zhouzhuang, I have a water town in the south of the Yangtze River forever top1.